Egg candler



M. A. ZWAAF Oct. l, 1957 EGG CANDLER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 1B,1955 w MAMWV um M. A. ZWAAF Oct. l, 1957 EGG CANDLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Mortimer A. Zwaaf INVENTOR.

BY 15mm Filed April 18, 1955 EGG CANDLER Mortimer A. Zwaaf, Hopewell, N.J.

Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,960

1 Claim. (Cl. 88-14.5)

This invention relates generally to apparatus for visually testing thecharacter of eggs being graded, and is more specifically directed to anegg candling device which includes means for readily feeding a pluralityof eggs successively over a concentrated light, said eggs beingpositioned at an optimum angle relative to said light whereby the eggsmay be graded and checked rapidly, economically and thoroughly.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a top elevational view of the novel egg candling device;

Figure 2, is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure3.

The egg candling device is indicated generally at and includes a supportplatform 12 and a light box 14.

The platform 12 includes an end frame member 16 connected tolongitudinally extending side members 18 terminating in diverging sidemember portions 20 which are suitably connected to an end member 22which constitutes a bumper and which may be made of foam rubber or anyother suitable shock-absorbing material. Connected at each of thecorners of the platform 12 where the end members 16 intersect the sidemembers 18, and and where the side members 20 intersect the end member22 are support legs 23 and 26, respectively, each including telescopingends 28 and 30, respectively, which are vertically adjustable throughthe medium of suitable transverse adjusting screws 32. The platform 12includes within the end and side members an open screen portion 34 whichpermits the passage therethrough of eggs broken accidentally during thecandling operation. A suitable plastic sheet, etc., may be placed on thesurface 36 beneath the candling device, and thus the broken eggs andshells may be caught thereon and removed after the candling operationhas been completed. It will be noted that the legs 24 are of a greaterheight than legs 26 and accordingly legs placed on the platform 12 willroll from the high end toward the lower end due to the force -ofgravity. Furthermore, the legs may be adjusted in order to control thespeed an egg will freely roll from the high end toward the low end.Suitably secured to the wire platform 34 are rubber track elements 38and 40, each of which is comprised of a wire covered with a softresilient rubber, said track members being suitably spaced in relativeparallel relation to each other and the side members 18 and 20, theinnermost member 40 being raised as seen at y42 in Figures 2 and 3whereupon an egg will be raised to approximately a 45 angle relative toits longitudinal or longest axis when in .a position over nited StatesPatent O 2,807,977 Ice Patented Oct. l, 1957 a light box 14, see forexample the egg shown in dotted lines at 44 in Figure 3. Inasmuch asthis device is used in a semi-dark room one of the track members may beof a white rubber in order to be more readily seen by the operators ofthe device, and one may include a ribbed peripheral surface 46, see forexample, track member 40 of Figure 3. The ribbed surface will tend toimprove the frictional qualities of the track in order to retain theeggs rolling from the high end 16 down toward end 22 with the eggsrolling from the high end 16 down toward end 22 with their longitudinalaxis perpendicular to said track. Thus without considering the light box14, it is believed readily obvious that an assistant places eggs at theend 16 whereupon they roll toward the light box 14 and a personproficient at candling eggs observes them passing over the light box 14and then the eggs are permitted to roll down the track toward the end22. Those eggs which are found to be cracked, imperfect, etc., may beremoved and the progress :of candling the eggs will not be impeded.

Although there has been disclosed herein a candling device whichencompasses a double machine, it is believed readily apparent that thecandling apparatus as viewed in Figure l could be divided down thelongitudinal center thereof and only one side need be utilized.

The lighting box 14 is substantially rectangular fitting between theside frame members 18 and including sides 48 connected to ends 50 andincluding a top 52 with the end members 50 having secured theretosuitable side members 54 which enclose wiring, not shown, and havemounted thereon suitable switches 56 and 58. Secured on the side walls50 are conventional light sockets 60 and extending downwardly from thetop member 52 is a U-shaped bracket 62 having side legs 64 upon whichare secured conventional light bulb sockets 66. The bulbs as indicatedare 100 watt, 60 watt, and are indicated as being General ElectricWhite, however, any arrangement of the wattage may be incorporated inorder to get the proper concentration of light for performing thecandling operation. The plural switches are provided inasmuch as lesslight is required for white eggs than is required for brown eggs, andaccordingly, the lights may be connected to the switches in any suitablemanner in order to provide a lesser amount of illumination for whiteeggs than for the brown.

lt will be noted that the top 52 includes a pair of upturned anges 68which dene a longitudinal slot beneath the track elements 38 and 40, andas most clearly seen in Figure 3 light projected through this slot willbe concentrated in the approximate middle of the egg whereby it may beexamined by the person performing the candling operation. Suitablysecured to the bottom 7 0 of the light box between the end walls 50 areright angled brackets 72 which have secured on the legs thereofdeilecting mirors 74 contained in position by bracket strips 76. Theside walls 48 include centrally located checker apertures 78 which arecovered by a suitably secured hooded portion 80 which prevents upwardreflection of light in the operators eyes. It is believed fairly obviousfrom Figures 3 and 4 that the rellecting mirors 74 will rellect lightupwardly through the longitudinal slots formed by anges 68 for checkingeggs as they roll from end 16 toward 22 on the track members 38 and 40,and the mirrors 74 located inwardly will reilect light outwardly throughthe checking apertures 78 for checking an egg retained therein by anoperator.

Suitable angle brackets 82 are secured on top 52 of the light box havingsupported at their top portions angled support pieces 84 having an upperhinge portion 86 supporting horizontal light deilecting panels '88 whichmay be pivoted upwardly as indicated by the direction arrows, saiddeflecting portions preventing excessive reflection of light toward theopposite sides of the candling apparatus,

the support bracket 84 having resting thereon an elongated mirror 90 foraiding in the deflection of light upon the egg to aid in candling thesarne by deecting light rays escaping from under the eggs and passingover the mirror 90 back to the mirror to be deflected thereby back tothe eggs.

It will be noted that the light bulbs identified generally at 92'arelocated almost directly above the reflecting mirrors 74 for the purposeof attaining the most efficient rellective qualities thereof.

It is accordingly believed that there has beendisclosed herein an eggcandling aparatus which fully conforms with the objects of thisinvention `heretofore set forth.

Various positional directional terms such as front, rear, top, etc., areutilized herein to have only a relative connotation to aid in describingthe device and are not intended to be interpreted as requiring anyparticular orientation thereof with respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new isas follows:

Egg candling apparatus comprising an enclosed light box adapted to beplaced in elevated position and having a top provided with an elongatedslot, a pair of tracks extending over said top and spaced inwardly ofone side of the box and at opposite sides of the slot for supportingeggs disposed lengthwise across the tracks, said tracks being inclinedlongitudinally to cause eggs thereon to roll over and along said slot, alight source in said box for directing light rays upwardly through saidslot against eggs rolling over the slot, a ilat reector plate risingfrom said top at a side of the tracks remote from said side of the boxand inclining upwardly away from said tracks, a pair of flanges on saidtop inclining upwardly from opposite sides of the slot beneath the eggsover the slot and toward said reflector plate to direct the upwardlydirected light rays against the eggs over the slot and toward thereflector plate, and a deiiector plate extending horizontally along thetop edge of the reflector plate in overlying relation thereto to deflectlight rays back to said reflector plate to be reflected by the reflectorplate back towards the eggs over said slot, one of said tracks having araised straight portion at said remote side of the tracks for tiltingthe eggs longitudinally upwardly at said remote side to facilitatesighting through the eggs by a person seated at said side of the box.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,622McTaggert Feb. 12, 1907 1,135,101 Eberle Apr. 13, 1915 1,360,987 MollNov. 30, 1920 1,816,483 Heaton July 28, 1931 1,875,811 Hilgers Sept. 6,1932 2,093,338 Niederer Sept. 14, 1937 2,130,437 Taylor Sept. 20, 1938FOREIGN PATENTS 7,450 Great Britain of 1902 424,819 France Mar. 22, 1911252,991 Great Britain lune 10, 1926

